Chimney cap services in Oak Park, IL
A cap is a small part with a big job: it shuts rain, snow, leaves and animals out of the flue and holds sparks in. We fit, replace and repair caps for one flue or several.
- Stainless steel caps
- Multi-flue lids
- Mesh and spark screens
What a chimney cap does
The cap sits on the flue and does four things at once: it blocks rain and snow, it stops leaves and nests from dropping in, it keeps birds and small animals out, and its mesh holds back sparks that could land on the roof or on the trees that shade so many Oak Park streets.
Caps live in the worst spot on the house and rust, dent and loosen. These are the signs one is due.
- Rust streaks, peeling paint or holes in the metal
- A tilted, dented or loose cap
- Mesh that is torn, clogged with soot or missing
- No cap at all, with the flue open to the sky
- Rust stains running down the brick or the flue tile
- Animal noises in the chimney
What you get with Chimney cap services
Less water in the flue
A cap that fits stops rain and snow from reaching the flue, the damper and the firebox.
Animals stay out
A mesh screen over the flue stops birds, squirrels and raccoons from moving in.
Sparks stay in
Fine mesh catches embers before they reach the roof, which matters with leaves and branches close by.
Stainless steel lasts
A stainless cap sized to your flue outlasts a painted steel one, which tends to rust through in a few winters.
What we do with caps
The first step is to measure the flue, since a cap that is too small leaves gaps and one that is too large will not sit right.
- Fit a new cap where there is none
- Replace a rusted, bent or missing cap
- Fit a wide lid over a chimney with several flues
- Replace torn or clogged mesh
- Check that the cap is secure and the crown beneath it is sound
One flue or many
Older Oak Park houses often have a tall stack that carries more than one flue, for a fireplace, a furnace and a water heater. Each flue needs covering, either with a cap of its own or with a single lid over the whole top. We work out which suits the chimney in front of us.
Chimney cap services questions
Does every chimney need a cap?
Every flue that is open to the sky does. Without a cap, rain, leaves and animals have a direct route into the chimney, and the water damage and blockages that follow are the repairs we are called for most.
How do I know what size cap I need?
The cap has to match the size and shape of the flue tile or the pipe. We measure it on the roof, so you do not have to guess or climb up to check.
Will a mesh cap make my fireplace smoke?
A properly sized cap does not. A mesh that has clogged with soot can, which is one reason the cap is checked during every sweep, and why we clean or replace the screen when it gets blocked.
Can you put one lid over several flues?
Yes. A wide lid can cover the whole top of a chimney with several flues. We look at the crown first, to make sure it can carry the lid.
Other services we provide
Chimney crown repair
Cracked or crumbling crowns sealed, resurfaced or rebuilt so the brick below stays dry.
Chimney repair
We repair caps, flue pipes, crowns, flashing and brick so that rain and frost cannot get into the chimney.
Chimney cleaning
Heavy buildup, nests and debris cleared from the flue, the smoke chamber and the firebox.
Ready to cover your chimney properly?
Fireplace, stove or insert? Tell us which, leave your number, and we call to book a visit.